A game featuring multi-goal leads for both teams ultimately needed overtime to settle, with the West Kelowna Warriors getting a 2-OT game winner on Saturday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
The Kings came out firing in the first period as Saturday’s game followed off exactly how October’s contest in West Kelowna wrapped. A physical West Kelowna team tried to hit and intimidate the Kings out of the contest but it was Tristan Mullin who opened the scoring with some good speed down the left wing and converting on a snap shot for his 25th of the season and 3rd of the weekend. 1-0 Powell River.
West Kelowna got themselves into penalty trouble later in the period with Kyle Betts cashing in on a rebound from the goaltenders shoulder after an Adam Brubacher shot from the point and it’s 2-0. Then late in the frame, Jonny Evans forces a turnover at centre ice and goes in on a 2-on-1 break with Carter Turnbull, the pass to the middle is on point and Turnbull makes it 3-0 after one and the Kings in firm control.
Into the second period and it was as if the teams traded jerseys in the intermission. The Kings came out flat and lifeless despite starting on a 4-minute man advantage, got into penalty trouble negating most of it and begin spiraling down fast. Five goals on seven shots between 1:34 and 13:17 of the 2nd period turned the game on its head and ended as a 5-3 lead for the Warriors through 40.
The Kings returned to their first period game in the third with another quick start. First the momentum building goal 2:50 in as Austin Kamer first had a chance but the puck spirted out to Adam Brubacher who slid it home. Then 34 seconds later Tristan Mullin scored his 26th of the year to tie it at 5.
It stayed that way through 60, then 65 despite some chances for the Kings and a bulk of the pressure but it was West Kelowna in the double overtime session to end it with Kylar Hope scoring 1:14 into the period for a 6-5 win in double overtime.
The loss is the first time this season the Kings have failed to get 2 points when leading by 3 at any point in a hockey game. Dating back to 2012/2013, the Kings were 62-0-0-2 when leading by 3 before last night.
Three Stars of the Game
- Jonathan Desbiens (Warriors) – 2 goals, 3 assists
- Tristan Mullin (Kings) – 2 goals
- Adam Brubacher (Kings) – 1 goal, 2 assists
The Kings continue their 9-game home stand next weekend with a double header against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, then a Family Day Monday game hosting Victoria.
